Jar c. 1937

Editor: Here we have "Jar," a drawing in ink and watercolor on paper, created around 1937 by John Dana. It’s such a simple composition, almost like a technical drawing. What do you make of it? Curator: It strikes me as a piece deeply embedded in its time. Look at the subject – a jar, a utilitarian object elevated. It echoes the everyday aesthetics embraced by artists during the Depression era. What does it mean to focus on such simple items amidst social upheaval? Editor: So, the act of depicting something so common becomes almost political? Curator: Precisely. Consider the power structures at play – who gets to define art, what subjects are deemed worthy? Dana’s choice challenges those norms, centering the experiences of ordinary people. The blue floral design hints at the decorative arts often relegated to women's labor. Is there a message here? Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't considered that angle. What about the rendering, it looks so fragile? Curator: The fragile ink and watercolor, contrasting against the geometric design, are worth exploring. It highlights impermanence, vulnerability. It challenges the ideal of timelessness. The artwork almost seems to be in conversation with questions around the construction of taste and worth in art. Do you think it achieves that? Editor: I see what you mean! Now it seems more provocative and loaded with intention than I initially thought. Curator: Exactly. It encourages us to reconsider how art both reflects and shapes our perceptions of the world around us, particularly power structures. Editor: I never would have guessed that such a simple drawing could hold such complex meaning. It makes me want to investigate the power of those messages!